Closure for steel drums



Patented Aug. 31, 1937 PATENT oFFlcE CLOSURE FOR STEEL VDRUMS Evor Williams, Mineral Ridge, and David W. Thomas, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to The Niles Steel Products Company, Niles, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application December 21, 19533, Serial No. 703,338

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in closures for steel drums or the like, and has reference particularly to split rings which are manipulated by means attached to the rings for'caus- 5 ing them to be expanded or contracted. As here'- in disclosed, the invention is applied to a split ring the ends of which are drawn together for the purpose of clamping the cover down onto the rim of the container body.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a ring contracting and expanding means which embodies ,interfitting relatively rigid elements which maintain the ends of the ring in correct position relative to each other, that is so l5 that they necessarily move toward and away from each other in the same plane and substantially in the same circular path.

Another object of the invention is the dispo- Y sition of a rack and pinion operating means en` 2b tirely within the Circle of the ring.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing the rack from being withdrawn from its guide.

Other objects and features of novelty will ap- 25 pear as we proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application,V we have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which ,Fig. 1 is a plan View oi the ring in closed or clamping position. I

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ring in full lines in partly opened position and in dotted lines in fully opened position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View on a larger scale, the View being taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View on a larger scale, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and showing the closing ring applied to a steel drum and cover.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional detail on a larger scale, illustrating the rack guide attached to one end oi the ring, this view being taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. l..

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional View showing the latch for the operating lever, and corresponding in position to the line 4 4 of Fig. i.

Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sections similar to these of Figs. 3 and 5, showing a modication, these 50 views being taken substantially on the lines 'II-l and 8-8 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the same modication.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a fragment of a steel 55 drum or barrel l0, one end of which is rolled over to form av bead or rim Il. I2 is a cover which is cupped or dished to some extent in order to extend down into the end of the drum. 'rms in cross section so as to embrace the rim II and the cover flange I3. When the cover and gasket are in place upon the drum the ring is expanded as far as possible, so as to increase its inner diameter, and is then put in vposition upon the drum. The C-shaped cross section of the ring provides upper and lower cam surfaces which engage the under side of the rim II and the upper side of the flange I3, and accordingly when the ring is contracted the flange I3 is drawn downtoward the rim II and the gasket I4 is compressed, producing an eiective seal.

Thev means which we employ for contracting and expanding the ring comprises a rack I6, which is welded or otherwise secured to the upper wall of one end of the ring directly adjacent the split therein. Preferably the rack I6 is composed of two thicknesses oi metal Ilia and I'Gb welded together, the' upper strip 16a having an outwardly directed extension at one end which is welded to the upper wall' of the ring I5. The i teeth of the rack are on its inner side, and the rack is preferably concave, the pitch line of its teeth conforming to a circle having its center in the center of the ring. The rack I6 slides Within a guide II which is welded to the end of the ring opposite that to which the rack I6 is' attached. The guide I1 is preferably formed as shown in Fig. 5, that is to say it comprises an upper element Ila and a lower element IIb. The lower element IIb has two parallel portions oirset from each other. Between these parallel portions there is a wall IIc which is curved along an arc corresponding substantially with the curvature of the rear side of the rack I6, with which it slidably engages. The upper element I'Ia of the guide is welded to the outer portion of the element IIb, whereby the guide is provided with upper and lower parallel spaced walls, between which the rack slides.

It is desirable to maintain as much rigidity in the rack and guide as in the ring in order that the ends of the ring may move correctly and be maintained in proper register or in alignment with respect to each other, and the rack and guide are therefore made of material suiciently heavy to satisfy this requirement. The maintenance of the two ends of the ring in the same plane. and in substantially the same circular path facilitates the closing and sealing of the package.

In order to move the rack I6 back and forth within the guide I1 and thereby close and open the ring, we mount a pinion I8 between the walls of the guide I1, that is to say in all cases where the guide comprises two spaced walls, with the teeth of the pinion engaging the teeth of the rack. One mounting arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 8, where a pivot pin I9 is shown anchored in the walls of the guide and surrounded by small bearing rollers 20. The pinion I8 is provided with a central bore which receives these rollers, whereby an anti-friction bearing is provided. A plain bearing may of course be employed if desired.

We prefer to form the teeth of pinion I8 in the end of a flat lever 2|, which protrudes from the open side of the guide I1. The swinging of the lever 2| from the closed position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line or fully opened position of Fig. 2 expands the ring to the greatest extent possible. While thus expanded, the ring can be fitted down over the end of the drum or barrel to which the head has been applied, and when the lever is swung from its fully open position, indicated in Fig. 2, to its closed position, indicated in Fig. 1, Athe ring is closed' and the ange on the head of the container is pressed down against the bead of. the drum or on the intervening gasket, making a tight closure. The pinion I8 by engaging the teeth of rack |5 holds the rack against ,the rear wall of the guide I1, and therefore prevents relative inward and outward movement of the ring ends. l

The pinion teeth, being formed in the end of the lever, of course do not extend through a complete circle, and this fact prevents the pinion from being rotated in either direction beyond a certain predetermined angular position. In the dotted line position of Fig. 2 the lever adjacent the pinion teeth engages the rack, and prevents the further rotation of the pinion. Hence the rack is held in that position against further movement tending to separate the ring ends. The rack and pinion are therefore always in mesh and ready to be operated.

Suitable provision is made for holding the ring and lever in their closed positions so as to prevent accidental loosening of the cover and the arrangement illustrated and described below has been found to be very eiective.

The lever 2| is provided near its outer extrem- 5 ity with a hole 22, preferably elongated. This in the extension 24. We also provide means for retractably holding the stop pin in lever-engaging position, consisting preferably of a strip of spring steel 26 riveted to the extension at 21, to which the upper end of the pin 25 is secured in some suitable manner.

When the lever 2| is swung to ring-closing position, it is drawn beneath the hooked end of the extension 24, and its upper'surface engages pin 25, pushing the latter up into the position ticularly secure.

shown in Fig. 6, when the lever can be moved backward a triiie into the hook as shown in Fig. 4, when the Ystop pin 25 snaps into the position shown in Fig. 4. The ring cannot then be loosened accidentally. When it is desired to open the drum upon which the ring is used, it is necessary for the operator to rst place a nger under the protruding end of the spring 26 and lift it to the position of Fig. 6, when the lever may be manipulated to clear the hook on the extension 24. A hole 23 is formed in the spring 26 in register with the hole 23 in the extension 24. In

` the event that it is desired to provide a positive lock for the lever 2|, a padlock or other suitable fastening may be caused to project through the registering holes 22, 23 and 23.

' In Figs. '7, 8 and 9 we have illustrated a modiication wherein the mountings of the rack and pinion and the guide for the rack are made par- In these figures the guide element 30, corresponding to the element |1 of the rst described form of the invention, comprises a piece of sheet metal 30a, the outer portion of which is curved to embrace the ring I5, as indicated in Fig. 8. 'I'he lower part 30D of the guide element is welded or otherwise secured to the part 30a and throughout the greater part of its extent is spaced away from the inwardly projecting portion of the part 30a so as to form with that part upper and lower guide walls between which the pinion 3| is mounted and between which the rack 32 slides. The guide element 3|) is then welded or otherwise iirmly attached to the ring I5. The rack element 32 may be formed from a single thickness heavy gauge sheet metal. The rack itself is approximately the same as the rack I6, but the outwardly extending portion at the butt end of the rack is curved so as to embrace the ring I5, as indicated in Fig. 7, and is welded or otherwise joined thereto. Thev attachment of the elements 3D and 32 to the ends of the ring is of course greatly strengthened by the curved outer portions embracing the ring.

The method of operation of this form of the invention is precisely the same as is that of the iirst described form, but it will be observed that substantially all of the inwardly projecting elements are positioned at the level of the upper wall of the ring or above that level. Consequently there is nothing to interfere in any way with the lowering of the ring into position upon the barrel or drum when the latter is being closed.

Variations fromthe described structure may be employed. Accordingly, we desire it to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be regarded as defined exclusively by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or accompanying illustration.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. A closing means for steel drums or the like, comprising a cover, a split ring, means for forcing the ends of the ring into cover-securing position comprising a lever pivotally supported upon the ring, the free end or the lever being movable into position adjacent the ring in order to bring the ring into cover-securing position, and means for securing the lever in the latter position comprising a hook mounted upon the ring and adapted to receive the lever, a stop adapted to engage the side of the lever remote from the hook, and spring means for holding the stop retractabiy in lever-engaging position.

2. A closing means for steel drums or the like, comprising a cover-securing split ring C-shaped in: cross section, a rack carried by one end of the y ring, a guide carried by the other end of the y ring, a pinion rotatably mountedl upon the guide engaging the teeth of the rackrand means for rotating said pinion, said rack and guide being adapted to slide relative to each other inthe opening and closing movements of the ring, and

having interengaging guide surfaces for holding the ends 4of the ring in proper relation to each` l other during their relative movement.

3. ik closing means for steel drums or the like, comprising a split cover-securing ring, a curved rack concentric with the ring carried by one end of the ring, saidv rack being oblong in crosssec- 15 tion with its teeth in one edge thereof, a guide carried by the other end of the ring, said guide comprising a back and spaced sides and being adapted to engage the opposite sides of the rack and the edge thereof opposite the toothededge,

. drum comprising a contractible split ring C` shaped in cross section with its ends in end to ,30 end relation, a'curved rack concentric with the ring rigidly attached to and extending beyond one end of the ring, a pinion carried by the other end of the ring and mounted to turn upon an axis xed withrespect to said end, said pinion 55 engaging andl guiding said rack, and meansfor turning said pinion to draw the ends of the ring toward each other.

5. In a steel drum o1.' the type in which there lapping the rim with a gasket interposed between them,vmeans for closing and Vsealing the drum comprising a contractible split ring` C- sh'aped in cross section with its ends in end to end relation, a curved rack concentric with the ring rigidly attached to and extending beyond one end of the ring, a guide' xed to the other end of the ring in position to receive said rack is ancutwardly extending rim and a head overandl guide it along a circle concentric with the ringjsaid guide comprising a pmiummeshmg with said rack, and means for turning the pinion.

6. lIn a steel drum ofthe type in'which there is an outwardly extending rim and a head overlapping the rim with a gasket interposed between them, means for closing and sealing the drum comprising a contractible split ring with its ends in endto4 end relation, a curved rack concentric with the lring rigidly attached to and extending beyond one end of the ring, a pinion carried by the other end of the ring and mounted to turn upon an axis nxedwith respect to said end, said pinion engaging said rack, said rack and pinion being spaced radially of the ring, and means for turning said pinion.

7. In a steel drum oi'- the type in which there is an outwardly extending rim and a. head overlapping the rim with a gasket interposed between them, means for closing and sealing the drum comprising a contractible split ring with its ends in end to end relation, a curved rack concentric with the ring rigidly attached to and extending vbeyond one end of the ring, al pinion carried by the other end or the ring and mounted to turn upon an axis xed with respect to said end, said pinion engaging said rack, said rack and pinion i being arranged upon the inner side of the ring, and means for turning said pinion.

8.'In a steel drum of the type in which there is an outwardly extending rim and a head overlapping the rim with a gasket interposed between y them, means for closing and sealing the drum comprising a contractible split ring G-shaped in cross section with its ends in end to end relation,a curved rack concentric with the ring rigidly attached to and extending beyondvone end of the ring, a guide 'for the rack iixed to the other end of the ring and havingspaced walls, a pinion mounted in said guide between said `walls and held thereby in mesh withsaid rack,

thus maintaining the end of the ring in end to end relation along a. contracting circle as the ring is closed, and means for rotating said pinion.

nvoa wmusus. DAVID w. moms. 

